Whatcom Waterway

Last Updated: September 2025

2023 Fact Sheet | Información en español

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is overseeing the cleanup of the Whatcom Waterway site on the Bellingham waterfront. Ecology held a 30-day comment period (April 24 - May 23, 2023) on the following documents:

• Amendment to the existing Cleanup Action Plan (CAP), included as part of a legal agreement (consent decree) between Ecology, the Port of Bellingham (Port), the City of Bellingham (City), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
• Updated Public Participation Plan

We received 12 comments and responded to them in our Response to Comments Summary document. No significant changes were made to the documents, and they were finalized.

• 2023: Begin designing the cleanup (engineering design) for the remaining Phase 2 Site Areas
• 2024 - 2025: Construction of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal dredging project
• 2026 - 2028: Construction of the cleanup action for the remaining Phase 2 Site Areas 

Join our email list to receive updates about the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site. Email Kristen Forkeutis, Public Involvement Coordinator, at Kristen.Forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov to be added to the list. Unsubscribe at any time.

The Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) is Washington’s environmental cleanup law. It provides requirements for contaminated site cleanup and sets standards that protect human health and the environment. Ecology enacts MTCA and oversees cleanups. The MTCA site cleanup process is completed in steps over a variable timeline.

Current Whatcom Waterway cleanup site Public Participation Plan

This plan describes how Ecology will share information with the community and how you can share information with us. Ecology will review this plan as the cleanup progresses and amend/update it as necessary. 

Log Pond Area - Cleanup Completed
In November 2000, Georgia-Pacific, with Ecology oversight, began construction activities to address contaminated sediment within the Log Pond area of the site. About 43,000 cubic yards of clean material were placed over 5.6 acres to cover contaminated sediment and restore habitat. Construction concluded in February 2001.

To ensure the completed cleanup protects human health and the environment in the long term, scientists are conducting physical, chemical, and biological monitoring. Based on monitoring results, additional material was placed along some shoreline areas of the Log Pond to prevent erosion as part of the cleanup for the Phase 1 Site Areas described below.  

Phase 1 Site Areas - Cleanup Completed
In July 2015, the Port of Bellingham, with Ecology oversight, began construction activities to address contaminated sediment within the Phase 1 Site Areas. The work was completed in 2016 and included:

• Removing 111,446 cubic yards of contaminated sediment
• Removing 9,962 tons of soil and 265 tons of creosote-treated timber
• Removing 5,146 tons of concrete and asphalt rubble (over 98% was reused or recycled)
• Isolating contaminated sediment with 102,950 cubic yards of clean material
• Installing 36,600 square feet of sheet pile walls on the north side of the waterway to support the upland and prevent contaminated groundwater from entering the waterway

To ensure the completed cleanup protects human health and the environment in the long term, scientists are conducting physical, chemical, and biological monitoring.

Monitored Natural Recovery Areas
Monitoring of the completed cleanup for the Phase 1 Site Areas also includes chemical monitoring of natural recovery areas. This ensures that contaminated sediment isolated by clean material (due to natural processes) remains isolated.

Phase 2 Site Areas - Cleanup Underway
In 2023, Ecology amended the existing Cleanup Action Plan (CAP) for the Phase 2 Site Areas. The CAP amendment is part of a legal agreement (consent decree) between Ecology, the Port, the City, and the DNR. The CAP amendment included these actions:

• Sequences design and construction activities to prioritize early cleanup at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal (BST).
• Records a possible future change to the cleanup action at the head of the Whatcom Waterway to provide habitat benefit.
• Revises the cleanup action for the Aeration Stabilization Basin (ASB), including dredged material disposal, due to changes in land use plans.
• Adds a cleanup standard for dioxin and furan compounds due to regulatory changes.

Background
The 700+ acre site is located within Bellingham Bay south of the Holly Street bridge in Bellingham, Washington. Most of the site is owned by the State of Washington. 

The cleanup of the Log Pond Area (6 acres) was completed in 2001, and Phase 1 Site Areas (18 acres) was completed in 2016. Monitoring of these areas and natural recovery areas (636 acres) continues. The cleanup of Phase 2 Site Areas (71 acres) remains to be performed. 

Contamination
The site includes in-water sediment impacted by contaminants released from past industrial waterfront activities, including discharges from the former Georgia-Pacific chlor-alkali plant, wood waste and degradation products from historic log rafting activities, and pulp mill wastewater discharges.  

As a result of these past industrial activities, studies conducted as part of the cleanup process have shown mercury, 4-methyphenol, and dioxin/furan compounds in sediment at concentrations that exceed the requirements of the state’s cleanup law, the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), and must be addressed.

Bellingham Bay Action Team
The Whatcom Waterway site is one of 12 sites coordinated through the Bellingham Bay Action Team (BBAT). BBAT is a bay-wide multi-agency effort to clean up contaminated sediment, control sources of sediment contamination, and restore habitat, with consideration for land and water uses. In 2000, participants in this initiative developed the Bellingham Bay Comprehensive Strategy.

Need help or have questions? We offer translation and interpretation services at no cost. If you need these services, email kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-240-4353. If you call, ask for an interpreter to be connected with one.

Español
Le ofrecemos servicios de traducción e interpretación sin costo. Para solicitar una copia de esta información en español, llame a Kristen Forkeutis al 425-240-4353 o envíe un correo electrónico a kristen.forkeutis@ecy.wa.gov. Si necesita servicios de interpretación, solicite un intérprete y permanezca en la línea mientras lo comunicamos.